A Cargo Ship, Near Reykjavik, Friday to Saturday Morning, Fandom Time (NFI, NFB)
Eleanor conceived and discarded dozens of escape plans before falling into a restless sort of sleep. She was awakened by the quiet echo of footfalls; the door hadn't opened so surely she was hearing things? But no, a moment later a soft weight clambered onto the bed.
It took a second for her eyes to adjust, and another for her to place the name. "Mindy?"
"Shhhh," replied the girl. "She'll hear." The Little Sister was already shoving a metal object and a small piece of paper in to Eleanor's hand; she needed both of her tiny hands to close Eleanor's fingers tight.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
Mindy gave Eleanor a look, as if to say that was a very silly question. "We're helping Big Sister." She placed a very sticky kiss against Eleanor's cheek before scooting off the bed, to crawl back through the air grill to wherever it was on the ship she ought to be.
The next morning, Eleanor would have sworn that she had dreamt it, if not for two things: one, the slip of paper which read, in crayon:
toMmoRRow Nite
the deck
youLe know wen
and the other object she had squeezed so tightly it was cutting into her hand: the door key.
It was all well and good for a note to say that she would know when, but Eleanor's stomach was in knots the whole day regardless. What if the sign was something minor, and she missed it? She couldn't possibly sleep.
Nearing midnight, Eleanor became convinced that it had been some sort of fever dream, and was arguing with herself whether it was safe to risk a catnap. And that was when she heard it.
There was a chorus of raised voices, in the next compartment: Mother's room. Several of the ship's crew members were very agitated about something. Eleanor couldn't make out the words. They were imploring Sofia's help, perhaps? That must be it, because after the voices reached a crescendo, her mother's calm contralto had agreed to something in an undertone, and then all of the voices had begun to edge away.
Eleanor waited until she was sure that Mother had to be out of sight before springing into action. The key slid easily into the lock, and she was free. She bolted down the nearest corridor, looking for something, anything, that might help her. Stairs! There, stairs would certainly be useful. She leaped up them two at a time.
On the deck, the sharp chill of the wind reminded her that she was wearing only a white shift dress. She had to hurry, but she still allowed herself one long moment of staring up at the stars.
Perhaps two long moments, but she couldn't spare the time, and the expanse was dizzying. Besides, there was something waiting here for her, something that would help her escape.
There, by the large bell-mouthed air vent, sat an old, battered suitcase. It must be intended for her, because there was a drawing resting on top of it:
Of course. A present for Big Sister. Inside the suitcase was all of her diving suit, helmet and boots included -- and this seemed like an opportune moment to put those boots on, since her escape might be helped by her not traipsing along in bare feet.
Also in the suitcase was a small plush doll, of the type the Little Sisters had often made, for their Daddies. And an envelope saying that she was accepted at ... a school? Somewhere? She wasn't sure how the acceptance letter would get her off this ship, but it was a nice thought.
She would have to smuggle this suitcase back into her room. Or should she leap into the water, here? The cold wouldn't affect her, and she had her diving suit. She could swim to Reykjavik, and make her way to this school, wherever it was.
That was the moment when the air vent shifted. It looked for one long moment as though it was yawning, before sliding into a much higher, wider shape. There was an odd purple light flickering inside of it.
Eleanor hadn't been a Little Sister in over ten years, but she knew a Hidey-Hole when she saw one. She wasn't sure where the tunnel would lead, or what was on the other side, but did it matter? It had to be better than here.
She hoisted the suitcase through, first, tossing it into the abyss. She stopped for one last look around, wishing she could say good-bye or thank you. But she couldn't risk waiting. She was sure the Little Sisters would understand.
And then she dove through, head-first, tumbling on into her future.
(Post 3 of 3. Entirely my own invention, but probably spoilery for Bioshock 2 anyway. NFI, NFB, but OOC is love.)
It took a second for her eyes to adjust, and another for her to place the name. "Mindy?"
"Shhhh," replied the girl. "She'll hear." The Little Sister was already shoving a metal object and a small piece of paper in to Eleanor's hand; she needed both of her tiny hands to close Eleanor's fingers tight.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
Mindy gave Eleanor a look, as if to say that was a very silly question. "We're helping Big Sister." She placed a very sticky kiss against Eleanor's cheek before scooting off the bed, to crawl back through the air grill to wherever it was on the ship she ought to be.
The next morning, Eleanor would have sworn that she had dreamt it, if not for two things: one, the slip of paper which read, in crayon:
toMmoRRow Nite
the deck
youLe know wen
and the other object she had squeezed so tightly it was cutting into her hand: the door key.
It was all well and good for a note to say that she would know when, but Eleanor's stomach was in knots the whole day regardless. What if the sign was something minor, and she missed it? She couldn't possibly sleep.
Nearing midnight, Eleanor became convinced that it had been some sort of fever dream, and was arguing with herself whether it was safe to risk a catnap. And that was when she heard it.
There was a chorus of raised voices, in the next compartment: Mother's room. Several of the ship's crew members were very agitated about something. Eleanor couldn't make out the words. They were imploring Sofia's help, perhaps? That must be it, because after the voices reached a crescendo, her mother's calm contralto had agreed to something in an undertone, and then all of the voices had begun to edge away.
Eleanor waited until she was sure that Mother had to be out of sight before springing into action. The key slid easily into the lock, and she was free. She bolted down the nearest corridor, looking for something, anything, that might help her. Stairs! There, stairs would certainly be useful. She leaped up them two at a time.
On the deck, the sharp chill of the wind reminded her that she was wearing only a white shift dress. She had to hurry, but she still allowed herself one long moment of staring up at the stars.
Perhaps two long moments, but she couldn't spare the time, and the expanse was dizzying. Besides, there was something waiting here for her, something that would help her escape.
There, by the large bell-mouthed air vent, sat an old, battered suitcase. It must be intended for her, because there was a drawing resting on top of it:
Of course. A present for Big Sister. Inside the suitcase was all of her diving suit, helmet and boots included -- and this seemed like an opportune moment to put those boots on, since her escape might be helped by her not traipsing along in bare feet.
Also in the suitcase was a small plush doll, of the type the Little Sisters had often made, for their Daddies. And an envelope saying that she was accepted at ... a school? Somewhere? She wasn't sure how the acceptance letter would get her off this ship, but it was a nice thought.
She would have to smuggle this suitcase back into her room. Or should she leap into the water, here? The cold wouldn't affect her, and she had her diving suit. She could swim to Reykjavik, and make her way to this school, wherever it was.
That was the moment when the air vent shifted. It looked for one long moment as though it was yawning, before sliding into a much higher, wider shape. There was an odd purple light flickering inside of it.
Eleanor hadn't been a Little Sister in over ten years, but she knew a Hidey-Hole when she saw one. She wasn't sure where the tunnel would lead, or what was on the other side, but did it matter? It had to be better than here.
She hoisted the suitcase through, first, tossing it into the abyss. She stopped for one last look around, wishing she could say good-bye or thank you. But she couldn't risk waiting. She was sure the Little Sisters would understand.
And then she dove through, head-first, tumbling on into her future.
(Post 3 of 3. Entirely my own invention, but probably spoilery for Bioshock 2 anyway. NFI, NFB, but OOC is love.)